Project Rattlecam brings herping into your home
By Cindy Steinle · July 24, 2026 10:31 am
Screenshot of the live Pennsylvania den of I think "Pickle" one of their Timber Rattlesnakes. Yes they have names and profiles!
Snakes, especially rattlesnakes, have so many misconceptions on how the live. We as herpers know that they are not going to chase us through fields to bite us, but many people believe any terrible stories of these animals. While we spend so much time in real life and online trying to tell people how these animals live, the folks behind Project Rattlecam have instead decided to show the world how rattlesnakes live and act! I stumbled across this site last year and with the world currently on fire and the air outside to unsafe to breathe, I found myself visiting the rookeries this week again. I call it field herping from my couch. Project Rattlecam is three different rookeries from across the country in partnership with scientists from Cal Poly, Central Coast Snake Services, and Dickinson College. Their mission from their site is:
Our mission is to study and raise awareness about rattlesnakes, their behavior, and their importance in the ecosystem.
They have 3 den sites; California, Colorado and Pennsylvania, that run live each day and each site has it's own FAQ as well as a general FAQ. Watching how the rattlesnakes interact with each other is amazing and even with all my years working with and around reptiles, I continue to learn new things on this site each time.
If you can't get out herping for any reason or feel the call of the wild, or heck, need to educate someone on why we love and need rattlesnakes, spend a little time over on the Project Rattlecams.
